General Information

Description: Written for the BBC Carol Competition 2018. The linked mp3 file is a sampled choir (Voices of Prague) and is only intended to give an impression of the sound of the piece. If you perform it and I hope you will - please send me a recording.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English text

Carol of the BeesAuthor : Carol Ann Duffy

Silently on Christmas Eve,
the turn of midnight's key;
all the garden locked in ice
a silver frieze
except the winter cluster of the bees.

Flightless now and shivering,
around their Queen they cling;
every bee a gift of heat;
she will not freeze
within the winter cluster of the bees.

Bring me for my Christmas gift
a single golden jar;
let me taste the sweetness there,
but honey leave
to feed the winter cluster of the bees.

Come with me on Christmas Eve
to see the silent hive
trembling stars cloistered above
and then believe,
bless the winter cluster of the bees.